Family Matters

SOUTHAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT’S FIRE SAFETY TIPS

(click photo to print your escape plan grid)

MAKE YOUR HOME ESCAPE PLAN
You need to know how you are going to get out of a fire before the fire starts. Draw a sketch of your home. Make sure you draw all the rooms in your house, especially your room. Then plan two ways to get out of every room in your home. The escape routes could be through the door or the window

AGREE ON A MEETING PLACE
Talk with your parents and plan on a place where your family will meet after you leave the house. Make sure everyone knows where the meeting place is. This is the place where your parents can count heads to make sure everyone is out safely. ONCE YOU ARE OUT, STAY OUT! Never go back into a burning building, even for your pets they will find their own way out.

PRACTICE YOUR ESCAPE PLAN
Have a fire drill at home. Practice your escape plan and make sure everyone can get out of the house and can get to the meeting place. Everyone in the family should take part in the practice.

CRAWL LOW UNDER SMOKE
During a fire, the air near the floor will be cleaner and cooler. You want to be on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest exit. Get down low so you can breathe cleaner and cooler air.

CHECK THE DOORS FOR HEAT
Before you open any door, feel the door to see if it is hot. Use the back of your hand and touch the door. If the door is hot, don't open it. Use another way out. If the door is cool, open it slowly to see if smoke or fire is on the other side.

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THEM
Have smoke alarms in your home and make sure that they work. Smoke alarms can smell smoke; they will make a loud noise and wake you up when you are sleeping. You need to change the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year. You need to have smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas.

MATCHES AND LIGHTERS ARE TOOLS NOT TOYS!
Teach children that matches and lighters are tools for adults, not toys and if they see matches and lighter to tell an adult. Use only lighters designed with child-resistant features and store them out of sight and reach of children.